Four Possible Meeting Roles


Engaged Participant
• Uses seven norms of collaboration
• Monitors one’s own and others’ adherence to meeting standards
• Sets and tests working agreements
• Seeks and provides data
• Clarifies decision-making processes and levels of authority
• Opens the door for others to speak
• Tests consensus
• Listens to one’s own listening
• Is conscious of one’s own assumptions and knowledge and how these interfere with one’s own listening

Recorder
• Remains neutral to content
• Supports facilitator
• Records basic ideas as the facilitator paraphrases them
• Keeps eyes on charts and not on group members
• Writes legibly using uppercase and lowercase printing
• Uses alternating colors to separate ideas
• Uses icons and simple graphics
• Keeps all charts visible to support group memory

Facilitator
• Remains neutral to content
• Clarifies role with group
• Focuses group energy
• Keeps group on task
• Directs processes
• Encourages everyone to participate
• Protects participants and ideas from attack
• Contributes to agenda planning
• Elicits clarity regarding meeting follow-up

Person with Role or Knowledge Authority
Before and After the Meeting
• Coordinates agenda design
• Develops group-member leadership
• Coordinates the activities of subcommittees
• Sees that meeting follow-through occurs
• Provides for evaluation
During the Meeting
• Informs group about constraints and resources
• Advocates for own ideas
• Inquires about the ideas of others
• Participates actively"